Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the Occasion of International Volunteer Day

In my travels as governor general, I have been fortunate to bear witness to so many heartening examples of Canadians giving freely of their time, talent, and resources. They demonstrate through their actions that our social conscience-our sense of responsibility toward others-is alive and well.

These are tough times for many people around the world, yet we should not forget that the generosity we demonstrate in giving back to our communities is measured not merely by the depth of our pockets, but also by the time we take out of our schedules-however busy-to help others. We see this generosity manifested in myriad ways as so many Canadians devote a great deal of their time, both at home and abroad, to making a difference in the lives of others. We are also fortunate to live in a country where so many volunteer and non-profit organizations have grown, from modest beginnings, to local, national and international significance.

So, on the occasion of International Volunteer Day, I urge you to take a moment and think about how you might make a difference in someone else's life-be they a friend, a family member or a stranger.